How come I'm almost to the level cap (20?), yet am only about half way done with the main story line and still have a ton of side quests to do?

How do you know you're only half way done?

Because you wondered around alot and killed things? I don't know, both play troughs for me worked out to me being level 20 after doing a little less than half the side quests and finishing up the main quest.

Yeah.. The leveling worked pretty good for me too.  I hit 20 right near the end with enough time to appreaciate being level 20 before the game ended.

If you're playing it on a PC then I recommend downloading a levelling mod. I need twice the amount of exp to level up and I still think I'm I'm levelling a bit too fast

My first play through, I got to level 19 then realized that all the stats I chose didn't fit for the type of character I wanted.

I figure, it's more about creating a character with the stats you want then having the priveledge of playing as that character for the remainder of the missions.

Still, I agree with TC. I think there should be at least another ten levels before "maxing out" your character.

The leveling is indeed too fast if you play it like Oblivion.

But if you did main quest first, then stopped before the final quest, then go do side quests you would be fine.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to do all the side quests and not max out your level early, which kinda sucks. 

I'm basing my "half way done" by the achievements that I've finished and what I have left.  At the beginning I didn't have much to do (quests) aside from the main questline and I wanted to find some of the side quests so I took off from megaton in search of adventure.  I enjoyed just exploring buildings (some that I eventually returned to for side quests).  I really don't feel like this exploration affected my leveling THAT much though.

I was level 20 with a shitload of sidequests left, and a shitload of the story left.

i didn't even hit 20, and i finished the main quest, so take that for what it's worth.

If you grabbed the Swift Learner or Here and Now perks, those acceerate your leveling, and as such probably aren't good choices. The cap is a bit low for people who love to explore, but eh. You can still improve your character through finding Bobbleheads and new equipment.

"I was level 20 with a shitload of sidequests left, and a shitload of the story left."

Odd. I finished the game at level 16 and I felt I was taking it slow.

ah yes... maybe it was the swift learner.  looking back now that probably was a wasted perk... just like the one that gives you a free level.

There's a mod for slower levelling. It really is too fast.
Then again, I took two levels of swift learner, so........

i think you are ment to play it through multipule times.

"i think you are ment to play it through multipule times.

i played the last few side quests on a second character

"